Ahrefs vs Moz Pro: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Ahrefs is built for agencies, while Moz Pro suits beginners. For most users Moz Pro is the stronger default, but Ahrefs can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Moz Pro has the lower entry price.
Both Ahrefs and Moz Pro get recommended a lot, but they solve the job differently. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Ahrefs | Moz Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Seo Suite | Seo Suite |
| What it's known for | Industry-leading backlink index and all-in-one SEO suite (Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, Site Audit, Rank Tracker) trusted for the depth and freshness of its link and keyword data. | Beginner-friendly SEO suite known for Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics, keyword research, link analysis and a strong learning community. |
| Pricing | ~$129/mo Lite, ~$249/mo Standard, ~$449/mo Advanced, ~$1,499/mo Enterprise (annual cheaper); limited free Webmaster Tools | ~$49/mo Starter, ~$99/mo Standard, ~$179/mo Medium, ~$299/mo Large (annual cheaper); 30-day free trial |
| Best audience | SEO agencies, in-house teams and serious professionals focused on backlink and competitive analysis. | Beginners, small businesses and marketers who want an easy entry into SEO. |
| Best for | agencies, backlink-analysis | beginners, small-business |
| Entry price | ~$129/mo | ~$49/mo (~$39 annual) |
| Biggest strength | Largest commercial backlink index with very fresh crawling. | Beginner-friendly interface and strong learning resources. |
| Main caveat | Expensive, with steep jumps between tiers. | Smaller link and keyword index than Ahrefs/Semrush. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Ahrefs key features
- Site Explorer for backlink and organic traffic analysis
- Keywords Explorer with clickstream-enriched search volume across 10+ search engines
- Site Audit crawler for technical SEO issues
- Rank Tracker for desktop and mobile positions
Moz Pro key features
- Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics
- Keyword Explorer with keyword suggestions and difficulty
- Link Explorer for backlink analysis
- Site Crawl audit with crawl-budget limits per plan
Pricing tiers side by side
Ahrefs plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | ~$129/mo | 750 tracked keywords, 5 projects, 25k API units |
| Standard | ~$249/mo | 2,000 tracked keywords, more historical data |
| Advanced | ~$449/mo | higher limits, more seats and API units |
| Enterprise | ~$1,499/mo | 10,000+ tracked keywords, 2M API units |
Moz Pro plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ~$49/mo (~$39 annual) | 50 tracked keywords, 20k pages crawled |
| Standard | ~$99/mo (~$79 annual) | 300 keywords, 3 sites, 400k pages crawled |
| Medium | ~$179/mo (~$143 annual) | 1,500 keywords, 10 sites, 2M pages crawled |
| Large | ~$299/mo (~$239 annual) | 3,000 keywords, 25 sites, 5M pages crawled |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Ahrefs wins
The deepest and freshest backlink index in the industry, the reference for link analysis.
- Largest commercial backlink index with very fresh crawling.
- Accurate keyword and traffic data trusted by agencies.
That makes it the stronger pick for sEO agencies, in-house teams and serious professionals focused on backlink and competitive analysis.
Where Moz Pro wins
The most approachable SEO suite, built around the well-known Domain Authority metric.
- Beginner-friendly interface and strong learning resources.
- Domain Authority is a widely recognized industry metric.
That makes it the stronger pick for beginners, small businesses and marketers who want an easy entry into SEO.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose Ahrefs if you fit its core audience — sEO agencies, in-house teams and serious professionals focused on backlink and competitive analysis.
- Choose Moz Pro if you fit its core audience — beginners, small businesses and marketers who want an easy entry into SEO.
FAQ
Is Ahrefs better than Moz Pro?
Moz Pro is the stronger default for most users, but Ahrefs can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Ahrefs and Moz Pro?
Ahrefs is the deepest and freshest backlink index in the industry, the reference for link analysis. Moz Pro is the most approachable SEO suite, built around the well-known Domain Authority metric.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Moz Pro?
Entry pricing differs: Ahrefs starts at ~$129/mo, while Moz Pro starts at ~$49/mo (~$39 annual). Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Ahrefs and Moz Pro: